Transcript

00:00:00

Democrats and Republicans working behind closed doors on Friday inched closer to a potential deal that would fund security along the US border with Mexico and avoid a repeat of the recent government shutdown The Washington Post in New York Times reported the group of seventeen lawmakers were nearing an agreement with president trump that would give him up to two billion dollars for barriers along the border far less than the five point seven billion he has so far demanded after previously calling the negotiations a quote waste of time trump on Thursday seemed more optimistic about a deal I certainly hear that they're working on something and %HESITATION both sides are moving along we'll see what happens trump said the border wall is needed to keep out drugs and illegal migrants Democrats do the wall is a waste of taxpayer money the negotiators have until February fifteenth to work out a solution sources told Reuters issues still to be resolved include trumps demand for more beds in detention centers along the border and the push by Republicans to speed up the deportation of undocumented migrants on Thursday house speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was giving Democrats on the committee the room to strike a fair deal and hope the White House would do the same with Republicans I had asked the administration to be as non interventionist as I am on that just let them do their work and hopefully that will get some good news in a short period of time if no deal is reached trump has said he could shut down the government again or declare a national emergency to build his wall an option drawing little enthusiasm from Republicans who fear it would set a precedent that could backfire on them in a democratic administration despite the optimism contingency plans were also in the works in case the talks break down lawmakers could agree to pass another short term funding bill giving them more time to stir , I could deal without risking another shot down